Mongolian Loanwords in Kazakh: A Semantic and Cultural Analysis

Abstract

This study provides a detailed analysis of Mongolic loanwords in Kazakh in terms of their historical origins, phonological and morphological adaptation, and semantic change. The main source of the research is Kazak Tiliniŋ Kirme Sözder Sözdigi (The Dictionary of Borrowed Words in the Kazakh Language), which represents a comprehensive corpus of borrowed vocabulary. Through a systematic and detailed examination of this dictionary, a large number of words of Mongolic origin have been identified and compared with their occurrences both in historical records and in modern Kazakh. In this way, the study determines the historical periods and cultural contexts in which these borrowings entered the Kazakh language. The data reveal profound cultural, historical, and linguistic interactions between Mongol and Turkic communities throughout Central Asian history. This interaction is particularly evident in such domains as military and administrative structures, law, social organization, belief systems, and the nomadic way of life. It has been observed that Mongolic-origin words have adapted not only formally but also semantically to Kazakh, with many acquiring new meanings and nuances within Kazakh culture. Furthermore, the study shows that a significant portion of these words have become embedded in Kazakh proverbs, idioms, and fixed expressions, thereby being transmitted orally from generation to generation. This demonstrates that Mongolic elements have left deep traces in Kazakh oral tradition and collective memory. Often overlooked in traditional lexicography, these usages reveal that loanwords not only shape the lexicon but also contribute to the preservation of cultural memory. Consequently, Mongolic loanwords have played an essential role in the formation of Kazakh identity, the maintenance of social memory, and the transmission of shared cultural values. In this respect, the study constitutes a linguistic and cultural contribution that illuminates the multilayered nature of historical interaction between Kazakh and Mongolic.